Angelonia plant named ‘Fairy Queen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Angelonia  plant named ‘Fairy Queen’, characterized by its upright and vigorous plant habit; medium green-colored foliage; pink and white bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Angelonia salicariifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Fairy Queen’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAngelonia, botanically known as Angelonia salicariifolia and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Fairy Queen’.

The new Angelonia is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamedselection of Angelonia salicariifolia, not patented. The new Angeloniawas discovered by the Inventor from within a population of plants of theparent selection in a controlled environment in Aichi, Japan in July,2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Angelonia by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Aichi, Japan since July, 2004, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Angelonia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Fairy Queen has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fairy Queen’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fairy Queen’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofAngelonia:

-   -   1. Upright and vigorous plant habit.    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage.    -   3. Pink and white bi-colored flowers.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Angelonia differ from plants of the parent selectionprimarily in flower color as plants of the parent selection havepink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Angelonia can be compared to plants of the cultivarAnstern, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,143. Plants of the newAngelonia and the cultivar Anstern differ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Angelonia have smaller leaves and flowers        than plants of the cultivar Anstern.    -   2. Plants of the new Angelonia and the cultivar Anstern differ        in flower color as plants of the cultivar Anstern have blue and        white bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Angelonia can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Anpink, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,818. Plants of thenew Angelonia and the cultivar Anpink differ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Angelonia have smaller flowers than plants        of the cultivar Anpink.    -   2. Plants of the new Angelonia and the cultivar Anpink differ in        flower color as plants of the cultivar Anpink have pink-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Angelonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Angelonia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Fairy Queen’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflower of ‘Fairy Queen’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Aichi, Japan, under commercialpractice in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures rangingfrom 20° C. to 30° C., night temperatures averaging 20° C. and lightlevels about 50 Kilolux. Plants had been growing for about twenty weekswhen the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Angelonia salicariifolia cultivar Fairy    Queen.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed    selection of Angelonia salicariifolia, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 15 days at 20° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one month at            20° C. to 30° C.        -   Root description.—Moderately thick, fibrous; color, 160C.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Herbaceous perennial. Upright and vigorous            plant habit; inverted triangle. Freely branching habit.        -   Plant height.—About 40 cm to 60 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 50 cm. Diameter: About            4.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 7 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 mm.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: 144A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: 148A. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: 146B; venation, 148A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: 135A; venation, 150D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers arranged in terminal            racemes; flowers face mostly outward. Freely flowering habit            with about 320 flower buds and flowers developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Strong; lemon-like.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from May            through October in Japan. Flowers persistent.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four to seven            days on the plant.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 4.8 mm. Diameter: About 3.2 mm.            Shape: Globular. Color: 4D.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 15 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm by 1.9 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 3 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base. Length: About 7 mm. Width:            About 7 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded; emarginate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            155B; stripes, 55B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces:            155B; stripes, 55B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl. Length: About 2.7 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 143A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            four. Filament length: About 2.2 mm. Filament color: 155B.            Anther length: About 0.1 mm. Anther color: 158B. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 158B. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.3 mm. Stigma shape:            Tapering. Stigma color: 156D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Angelonia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Angelonia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Angelonia have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Angelonia plant named ‘Fairy Queen’ as illustratedand described.